Manufacturing activity at 28-year low
NEW YORK - Signs grew that the economy could turn even weaker in 2009, as an index of December manufacturing activity sank to its lowest point in 28 years. Every corner of the sector was down, from bakeries to cigarette-makers to aluminum smelters.

Markets off to optimistic start for '09
NEW YORK - Wall Street started 2009 with a big rally Friday as investors, brushing aside a disappointing report on manufacturing, sent the Dow Jones industrials up more than 250 points and to their first close above 9,000 in two months. All the major indexes shot up more than six percent for the week.

GMAC gets aid, loses exclusive loan right
DETROIT (AP) - GMAC LLC will no longer have exclusive rights to provide no- or low-interest loans to people who take advantage of General Motors financing incentives, as part of the complex deal that gave the troubled lender billions in aid.

Depression negatively affects reader's love life
DEAR CARLOYN: At what point do you draw a line in a relationship with someone who has depression? This person decided to stop counseling 18 months ago, and has since spiraled into a worse place, pushing away most friends. This person will give the silent treatment for weeks, then reappear as if nothing happened. I love this person. But during these weeks of silence, I am quietly and intensely hurting, which this person knows well.

Cheaper way to do city legal business?DO YOU BELIEVE the city of Lubbock has more lawyers on staff than it really needs? If so, you're not alone because the size of the city's legal department has been a hot button issue with City Hall critics for years. It won't be long now, though, before there's evidence to prove or disprove their case in the court of public opinion.

From Our Story Comments
From ttucar, regarding an article about House Democrats saying they've lined up enough opposition to oust Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick (A-J, Dec. 30).

From our story comments
From btxusa, regarding an article about House Democrats saying they've lined up enough opposition to oust Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick (A-J, Dec. 30).

Austin-based quartet combines reggae, jazz and Texas blues
You haven’t seen the Saturday Night Live digital short called Ras Trent?’ It’s Jah-larious. Backed by a reggae-esque beat, SNL wunderkind Andy Samberg skanks around a college campus in a Baja hoodie and dreadlocks and croons Rastafarian non sequiturs in a suburbanized Jamaican dialect.

Gardeners can learn to attract and keep pollinators
Wild honeybees have all but disappeared from yards across America. Many kinds of butterflies also are becoming scarce. But gardeners have options if they need pollinators to help produce a healthy food supply.

This isn't grandma's wood-burning stove
During the last hike in heating costs in the late 1970s, interest in heating with wood surged, particularly in regions where oil or electricity were primary heat sources.

Skinny legs, logos go into fashion hibernation
NEW YORK - It's probably safe to retire - or at least put to rest for a long winter snooze - your skinny-leg pants. Once the first signs of spring start to stir, the favored silhouette will be loose and easy.

Knight grabs help from the stands in Tech win
Frustrated with his team's inability to make a layup, Texas Tech head coach Pat Knight pulled someone from the stands Thursday and brought him into the Red Raiders' huddle during a time out.

Road construction
 Spur 327 - between Loop 289 and the Marsha Sharp Freeway. Crews will be rebuilding the main lanes and frontage road system. While work is going on, lanes may be closed between Loop 289 and the freeway as well as on Milwaukee Avenue.

Road Construction
 Spur 327 - between Loop 289 and the Marsha Sharp Freeway. Crews will be rebuilding the main lanes and frontage road system. While work is going on, lanes may be closed between Loop 289 and the freeway as well as on Milwaukee Avenue.

Death noticesWayne Battey died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008. Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Floydada. Moore-Rose Funeral Home of Floydada.

Pauline Dillon Wesson
Celebration of life services for Pauline Dillon Wesson, 94, of Slaton, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, at Resthaven's Abbey Chapel with Pastor Gene Hawkins officiating. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at Resthaven Funeral Home.

Josephine Acevedo
Mrs. Josephine Acevedo, 54, of Lubbock passed on Thursday. She was born August 10, 1954 in St. Peters, Minn. She was preceded in death by her father, Jesus Rodriguez, Sr.

Edith Ava Hillin Bailey
Family and friends of Edith Bailey will gather at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 3, 2009 at Lake Ridge Chapel, 82nd and Iola Ave., to celebrate 87 years of her life. Committal service will follow in the City of Lubbock Cemetery under the direction of Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. Edith died Wednesday, December 31, 2008.

Billy Wayne Freeman
Services for Billy Wayne Freeman, 78, of Hale Center will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, January 3, 2009 in the Hale Center First United Methodist Church with Rev. Jimmy Cameron and Rev. Carroll Green officiating. Burial will follow in the Hale Center Cemetery under the direction of Abell Funeral Home of Hale Center.

Don Blanton
Don Blanton was born on December 31, 1940 in Weatherford to Bob and Peggy Blanton and passed away on December 20, 2008. Don graduated from Monterey High School in Lubbock in 1959, where he lived with his parents until his enlistment into the Navy in 1961. He moved to Dallas in 1965 and went to work at Maher Brothers Ford, where he became the General Manager. In the early 80s, Don was instrumental in founding the current Deep Ellum where he became a major property owner. At the age of 57, Don met his only wife, Jeanne in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico on a Rotary Club trip. They married soon after and she is the true love of his life.

Donnie Blackmon Lewis
Donnie Blackmon Lewis, 60, of Lubbock died Saturday at her home. Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Franklin-Bartley Chapel, burial will follow in the Meadow Cemetery. Her family will receive friends Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Donnie was born August 14, 1948 to Donald and Ida (Wilson) Blackmon. She was a graduate of Ropesville High School, and she attended South Plains College, and University of Texas. She married Bill Lewis October 21, 1986, in Lovington, N.M. She was a member of St. Luke's Methodist Church, and was a retired bookkeeper.

R.J. Brock
Church service for R.J. (Skeeter) Brock, 84, of Earth is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, January 3, 2009 at Earth United Methodist Church with Rev. Jimmy Nunn of Lubbock officiating. Burial will be in the Earth Memorial Cemetery.

Randy Gregg
Randy Gregg, 33, died Monday, December 29, 2008 at M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston. Services will be 2 p.m. Friday, January 2, 2009 at the First Baptist Church of Roby. Burial will be in the Roby Cemetery under the direction of Weathersbee-Ray Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Funeral Home, 111 N. McKinley in Rotan.

Gene Lee Carpenter, Sr.
Memorial services for Gene L. Carpenter, 80, of Slaton will be 4 p.m. Sunday, January 4 2009 in Englunds Chapel. Gene died December 31, 2008. He was born November 8, 1928. Gene married Lula Reed in 1949 in Grassland. Lula preceded him in death in 2001. They lived in Tatum, N.M. and Brownfield before moving to Slaton in 1960.

Charlie Hendrix
Charlie Hendrix, 62, of Lubbock passed away Sunday, December 28, 2008 at Covenant. He was born March 27, 1946 to Finice Hendrix and Azelene Mann Hendrix. He attended and graduated from Dunbar High School. He worked at Goulds Pumps until his health failed.

James Lee Richardson
James Lee Richardson, 85, passed away January 1, 2009 in Lubbock. He was born on January 28, 1923 in Paducah, the youngest child of Jesse and Leona Richardson. The family moved to Hale County in 1924. James enlisted in the United States Army in 1943 and served in combat in Europe.

Alfredo De Larrosa, Jr.
Alfredo De Larrosa, Jr. of Lubbock departed this life on December 30, 2008 at the age of 60 years. He was born July 10, 1948 to Alfredo De Larrosa, Sr. and Candelaria Luna in Lubbock. He married Paula Blanca Sanchez on February 14, 2004 in Lubbock. Alfredo graduated from Lubbock High School in 1967 and then attended South Plains College and American Commercial College.

Evelyn McGavock
Evelyn Marie McGavock, 85, of Lubbock, formerly of Amarillo, passed away December 31, 2008.
Evelyn, "Snookie," was born on February 10, 1923 in Nashville, Ark. to Lewis and Lottie Wakefield. The family moved to Quitaque where she grew up and went to school along with her five sisters and three brothers. She married Leonard McGavock on December 24, 1940 in Silverton. They lived and raised their four children in Tulia and Stratford. Leonard preceded her in death on April 3, 1990.

Alton B. Kelley
Memorial services for Alton B. Kelley, 77, of Tahoka will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 4, 2009 at the First Baptist Church in Tahoka. He died January 1, 2009.

Mamie Caswell Moore
Mrs. Mamie Moore, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother and friend of O'Donnell departed this life on January 1, 2009 at the age of 85 years. She was born on April 8, 1923 in Haskell to John Venson and Ruby (Burleson) Tidwell. Mamie was a lifelong resident of O'Donnell. She married Vernon Otis Caswell on May 28, 1939 and he preceded her in death on October 14, 1979. Mamie then married Howard Moore on January 3, 1985. Mrs. Moore attended O.K. schools in Dawson County. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in O'Donnell.

Miguel R. Tijerina
May 23, 1931 - Jan. 2, 2008
God saw you getting tired, and a cure was not to be, so He put his arms around you and whispered, "Come to Me". With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away, and although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A Golden Heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

Ernesteen L. Watson
A celebration of the life and witness of Ernesteen L. Watson, 90, will be 11 a.m. Saturday, January 3, 2009 at First Christian Church. Officiating will be Dr. Michael Passmore, senior minister and Rev. Kim Clowe, minister of music. Burial will be in the City of Lubbock Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Rix Funeral Directors.

Red Raiders hope for less excitement
DALLAS - Not too many years ago, bowl committees took a liking to Texas Tech, wanting to bring the Red Raiders' exciting brand of offense to their town. The last two years, bowls milked more excitement out of Tech than they could have imagined.

Turning Point
• Marshay Green's 65-yard interception return for a TD - after Mike Crabtree slipped and fell - gave Ole Miss a 31-21 lead early in the third quarter.

Texas Tech women vs. ArkansasAbout the game: This is the 26th meeting between the two schools with Arkansas holding a 17-8 advantage in the old Southwest Conference rivalry. Arkansas won the last meeting in Fayetteville, Ark., last season, 80-57. ... Texas Tech is going for its fourth-straight win since losing to New Mexico, 63-54, and is going for its ninth win at home this season. ... Arkansas has outscored its opponents by an average of 13.7 points per game this season and has scored 984 points in its 14 games. While the Razorbacks have plenty of bodies to grab the rebounds (39.3) they are best around the perimeter, hitting 7.2 3-pointers per game and 32 percent overall (101-315).

Finding positives difficult, but finding motivation for '09 easy
DALLAS - When Texas Tech swept like a West Texas tornado through its first 10 opponents and rose in the rankings to No.2, the Red Raiders sure didn't conceive of a season ending this way. Stumbling twice down the stretch was bad enough, but what the Raiders did well in any of their last three games, really, would comprise a very short story.

Knight grabs help from the stands in Tech win
Frustrated with his team's inability to make a layup, Texas Tech head coach Pat Knight pulled someone from the stands Thursday and brought him into the Red Raiders' huddle during a time out.

Lady Raiders driven by last year's feeling
This time one year ago, Texas Tech had somewhat of a sour taste in its mouth leaving Fayetteville, Ark., after suffering an 80-57 loss to Arkansas, its final game before Big 12 conference play began.